Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergro… Read Full Bio ↴Golden Smog are a loosely connected group of musicians (arguably a supergroup) comprising, at various times, members of Soul Asylum, The Replacements, Wilco, The Jayhawks, Run Westy Run, The Honeydogs and Big Star.

The group took their name from the name of a Flintstones character, which, in turn, was a parody of singer Mel Torme's nickname; the Velvet Fog. The group first came together in the Minneapolis area in 1989 as a country-rock reaction to the punk and hardcore music that dominated the Twin Cities' musical scene at the time; eventually Golden Smog became something of a fixture at local clubs, where they would play a handful of shows annually. Golden Smog's lineup has often changed, though Run Westy Run guitarist Kraig Jarret Johnson as well as guitarists Dan Murphy (Soul Asylum) and Gary Louris (the Jayhawks) were relative constants.

The definitive beginning of Golden Smog is hard to pinpoint given the mercurial nature of the band's lineup. Some point back to a show in January of 1987 when a band billed as 'The Take It To The Limit Band' played an all Eagles cover show at the Uptown Bar in Minneapolis. This band consisted of Dan Murphy and Dave Pirner (both of Soul Asylum), Jim Boquist (later of Son Volt), and Martin Zellar (Gear Daddies). The show ended with a cover of then Bangles hit song Walk Like An Egyptian. This same band later played a The Rolling Stones themed show in 1989 under the name "Her Satanic Majesty's Paycheck."

Between these early covers shows, and Golden Smog's first album, it is unclear what happened. It's hard to claim that these early shows were by Golden Smog, but rather in hindsight they were played in the spirit of the early Golden Smog. In 1992, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman (bassist for The Jayhawks), Kraig Johnson, and Chris Mars (the Replacements) released Golden Smog's first CD, a covers EP entitled On Golden Smog. This was followed four years later in 1996 by their full-length debut, Down By The Old Mainstream, recorded at Pachyderm Recording Studio with a lineup that included Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, Gary Louris, Marc Perlman, Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy, and Honeydogs drummer Noah Levy (all of whom recorded under pseudonyms as a result of contractual obligations). A few years later the band reformed with Jody Stephens (of Big Star) taking over for Noah on the drums (Jody had previously played with the band during a New Years Eve show in Chicago in 1996). This new incarnation of Golden Smog released Weird Tales in 1998.

In 2005 a new incarnation of the smog formed and recorded a new album in Spain. The new album is entitled Another Fine Day and was released on July, 18th 2006 on the Lost Highway Records. This album features both Jody Stephens and Linda Pitmon from Zuzu's Petals on drums. This album, like the previous couple is of a more coherent band, although Jeff Tweedy is only featured on a few songs. In the summer of 2006, the Smog played a couple of shows in Minneapolis and New York City. These shows were without Tweedy, as he had previously stated that he was too busy to tour with the band. A six-show mini-tour occured in September of 2006. In 2007 Golden Smog released an EP on Lost Highway called Blood On The Slacks.

Insecure/Morse Code
Golden Smog Lyrics

We have lyrics for these tracks by Golden Smog:

02 another fine day To bad you got a chip on your shoulder Your broken…
02 Ill Fated Wasn't much of a union Denial and confusion Meant somethin…
02 looking forward to seeing you Looking forward to seeing you In the sunshine of my time I…
03 Pecan Pie As I walk along and stumble Trains rumble in my head As…
04 long time ago I remember when mom and dad named you Claire Before you…
04 lost love Lost love in the desert Lost love on the sea If you…
04. Long Time Ago I remember when mom and dad named you Claire Before you…
06 Until You Came Along Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down Don't let your f…
07 he's a dick I once knew a guy Who always asked for money I'd give…

08 Cure For This I can see you in the summertime Throwing caution to the…
08 walk where he walked There's a man on TV claims he killed 23 Burnt their…
10 He's A Dick I once knew a guy Who always asked for money I'd give…
12 red headed stepchild Hello darkness, come on in Let me light a candle Imaginati…
14. I Can Outside the cold wind broke the mold You now I always…
15. Think About Yourself Starry days, sunny nights All you do is, think about yourse…
21 Please Tell My Brother Please tell my brothers I love them still Over the mountain…
22-02 5-22-02 That's when I told you 5-22-02 Did you ever fee…
5‒22‒02 5-22-02 That's when I told you 5-22-02 Did you ever feel th…
7 To Call My Own Blowing through my losing streak Bought the farm on a dead…
All the Same to Me Met a man on a train near Santa Fe Who was…
Another Fine Day To bad you got a chip on your shoulder Your broken…
Backstreet Girl I don't want you to be high I don't want you…
Beautiful Mind It's not a story of a god around the calling Locked…
Can't Even Tie Your Own Shoes No one taught you how to sing the blues And you…
Corvette Don't it blow your mind? Don't it blow your mind like…
Cowboy Song I am just a cowboy, lonesome on the trail Those starry…
Cure For This I can see you in the summertime Throwing caution to the…
Easy To Be Hard How can people be so heartless? How can people be so…
Fear of Falling I am not a shadow I am flesh and blood Meet me…
Friend You looked me down when I was there You shot me…
Fry Pan Eyes Soaked yourself in gasoline And you're down the [Incomprehe…
Glad & Sorry Thank you kindly For thinking of me If I'm not smiling I'…
Golden Smog "Until You Came Along" Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down Don't let your f…
Gone Well, I saw you at the station It was after the…
He's A Dick I once knew a guy Who always asked for money I'd give…
Hurricane And it's a drag wind and your world's a hurricane Forever…
I Can Outside the cold wind broke the mold You now I always…
I Can't Keep From Talking Hey ain't it great for us to be alive I've been…
I Can\'t Keep From Talking Hey ain't it great for us to be alive I've been…
If I Only Had A Car If I only had a car Wouldn't be here in this…
Ill Fated Wasn't much of a union Denial and confusion Meant something …
Ill-Fated Wasn't much of a union Denial and confusion Meant somethin…
Jane She came from a wealthy family There were walls inside the…
Jennifer Save Me Jennifer save me, Jennifer save me I'm sick of all the…
Keys She had a Nova that was tinted green He took a…
Listen Joe I touched your face, you were still warm I took my…
Long Time Ago I remember when mom and dad named you Claire Before you…
Looking Forward To See You Looking forward to seeing you In the sunshine of my time I…
Looking Forward To Seeing You Looking forward to seeing you In the sunshine of my time In…
Lost Love Lost love in the desert Lost love on the sea If you…
Making Waves Saw your eyes light up the horizon Just like the sun,…
Never Felt Before Is it on or in the air tonight Or is this…
Nowhere Bound It don't matter if I lose It's how I play the…
Pecan Pie As I walk along and stumble Trains rumble in my head As…
Please Tell My Brother Please tell my brothers I love them still Over the mountains…
Radio King Let's go down, together Three AM tomorrow night I'll take yo…
Red Headed Stepchild Hello darkness, come on in Let me light a candle Imaginati…
Reflections on Me If we were just a little smarter Wouldn't be such a…
Scotch On Ice She down on my socks Getting ice for my scotch Never bending…
She Don't Have To See You You always thought In a town this size That you always Have …
Shooting Star Johnny was a schoolboy when he heard his first Beatles…
Shooting Star (Bad Company Cov Johnny was a school boy when he heard his first…
Son Hello mom, I'm fine Where the sun is dying How's the weath…
Starman Didn't know what time it was, the lights were low I…
Strangers Where are you going, I don't mind I'll kill my world…
Tarpit Hey, what's bubbling down under there? Why is it screaming w…
Tell My Brother Please tell my brothers I love them still Over the mountain…
Think About Yourself Starry days, sunny nights All you do is, think about yourse…
To Call My Own Blowing through my losing streak Bought the farm on a dead…
Until You Came Along Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down Don't let your fe…
Until You Come Along Sometimes you're up, sometimes you're down Don't let your f…
V When I was down she was full of advice 'Cause she'd…
V. When I was down she was full of advice 'Cause she'd…
Walk Where He Walked There's a man on TV claims he killed 23 Burnt their…
white sheel road The wheels are spinning inside of my head The wheels are…
White Shell Road The wheels are spinning inside of my head The wheels are…
Williamton Angel Williamton angel smiles Carries them through the miles Throw…
Without A Struggle Travelin' with no anchor, Lord In a sea of indecision Lost i…
Won't Be Coming Home He is reaching up for climbing Ropes hanging down below I …
Yesterday Cried Yesterday is just the day before today Sat and watched it,…

You Make It Easy I want you to understand I'm gonna be your man You make…

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